51s clinch division

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2002 | 9:39 a.m.

Las Vegas' PCL playoff history

1983 -- Lost Southern Division playoff to Albuquerque 3-2

1984 -- Lost Southern Division playoff to Hawaii 3-1

1986 -- Defeated Phoenix 3-2 for Southern Division title; defeated Vancouver 3-2 for PCL Championship

1987 -- Lost Southern Division playoff to Albuquerque 3-0

1988 -- Defeated Albuquerque 3-0 for Southern Division title; defeated Vancouver 3-1 for PCL Championship

1992 -- Lost Southern Division playoff to Colorado Springs 3-2

1996 -- Lost Southern Division playoff to Phoenix 3-0

The Las Vegas 51s had plenty of reasons to break out a bottle of bubbly Tuesday night following a 6-0 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies at Cashman Field.

The team clinched the Pacific Coast League South Division title, remaining 13 1/2 games ahead of the Tucson Sidewinders with 13 games left.

And a day after infielder Joe Thurston set the franchise record for doubles (35) and hits (178) in a single season, infielder Phil Hiatt set the team career home run record (61) with his 17th of the season.

Still, the celebration in the clubhouse had the feel of a Lions Club happy hour gathering instead of a fraternity house keg party.

"It's one step closer to get to where we want to go," 51s manager Brad Mills said moments after he took a watercooler bath courtesy of outfielder Brad Tyler and infielder Jeff Branson. "We're excited and relieved that the first step is over but we hope there are better things down the line."

Mills guided the Colorado Sky Sox to the PCL championship in 1995.

The last time the 51s were division champs was 1996, when they won the second half of the South Division. Las Vegas has won the PCL championship twice, in 1986 and 1988.

The 51s will host the Western Division champion Sept. 4-5 at Cashman Field at 7:10 p.m. in the best-of-5 first round of the playoffs. Edmonton leads Portland by 11 1/2 games in the West.

With the formality of clinching the division over, the players focused on their usual postgame activities -- eating, getting dressed and watching TV as if it were just another day.

"We're not content yet," said Thurston, who went 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI. "We're not going to say, 'OK, we clinched,' and that's it.

"This is the time we want to work on the extra stuff to where we're even that more prepared during the playoffs. Winning is important. We came this far, we might as well win it all."

The 51s (78-53) easily disposed of the Grizzlies (52-80) to sweep the four-game series. An outstanding outing by former Arizona Diamondbacks starter Robert Ellis and sound defense were the major stories Tuesday.

Ellis scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings and struck out six for the win. Alfredo Gonzalez struck out three in two scoreless innings of relief.

It was the third straight start in which Ellis didn't allow a run.

"He pitched lights out," 51s catcher David Ross said. "It was a big win for him.

"I think the way he threw the ball, if he can keep doing that, he can carry us right on into the playoffs."

Hiatt's homer led off the 51s' two-run second inning. He stroked Fresno starter Osvaldo Fernandez' first pitch over the wall in left-center.

"It couldn't have come at a more perfect time," Hiatt said of clinching a playoff berth. "It's good to get it out of the way.

"They've been talking about it for the last week or so. We've still got a long road ahead of us. We're just keeping our focus and hope to finish strong."

Ross doesn't think that will be a problem.

"I think everybody's excited that we finally clinched, but nobody wants to let up now," he said.